Unveiling the Matters Related to Water Bottle Factory Audits: Starbucks Audit Edition

There are stories in every cup, and warmth in every life. Hello everyone, "Dong Dong's Cup Talk" is here! Recently, our factory passed the Walmart audit, marking another new certification after Starbucks, BMW, Huawei, Midea, Nestlé, and BSCI audits. This signifies a fresh start for our factory. https://www.zhanyict.com/en/ProductsDetail-VB-10534.htmlAmong the inquiries we’ve received, many are about understanding factory audits. Recently, we invited our factory’s Director Li Jing, who is specifically in charge of audit matters, to share her insights despite her busy schedule. The following content is based on Director Li’s narration and has been compiled by me. Due to the extensive content, I will share it in multiple independent posts.

Hello everyone, I’m Li Jing. I’ve been working at this factory for 15 years. Starting as a production line quality inspector and now serving as the person in charge of factory audit affairs, I have witnessed the entire journey of the factory from its inception to becoming a supplier for multiple international brands. https://www.zhanyict.com/en/ProductsDetail-VB-10534.htmlOur factory mainly produces stainless steel vacuum flasks and various plastic water bottles. We have multiple departments, including Administration, Quality Inspection, Design, Business, Finance, General Affairs, Human Resources, Technical, Product Development, Mold, Injection Molding, Metalworking, Packaging, and Warehouse. Over the years, I have led my team to successfully pass various factory audits, including those for Starbucks, Walmart, Nestlé, and BSCI. Today, I’d like to share the details of these audits with you, hoping to help those who are new to factory audits avoid unnecessary detours.

1. Starbucks Audit

The Starbucks audit primarily focuses on social responsibility, environmental management, and product quality. https://www.zhanyict.com/en/ProductsDetail-VB-10534.htmlIts purpose is to ensure that suppliers adhere to ethical standards, provide a safe working environment, and guarantee that products meet Starbucks’ quality requirements.

Audit Content: This includes employee interviews, wage and working hour record checks, health and safety facility assessments, environmental management system reviews (such as wastewater treatment and energy consumption), and product quality control processes. https://www.zhanyict.com/en/ProductsDetail-VB-10534.htmlThe human rights section places particular emphasis on the protection of underage workers, anti-discrimination policies, and compliance with overtime pay regulations. For example, Starbucks strictly examines attendance records from the past 12 months to ensure that weekly working hours do not exceed 60 hours and that overtime is voluntary.

Opportunity for Correction After Failure: If the initial audit fails, Starbucks usually provides one opportunity for rectification, with a deadline of 1-3 months. https://www.zhanyict.com/en/ProductsDetail-VB-10534.htmlIf the re-audit still fails, orders may be suspended.

Case Study: I once assisted a peer factory that failed its first audit due to non-compliant wastewater discharge. https://www.zhanyict.com/en/ProductsDetail-VB-10534.htmlAfter installing a wastewater treatment system, it passed the second audit.

Cost: If third-party agencies are hired for assistance, the market cost is approximately RMB 30,000 to 50,000.

Investment Required: To fully pass the Starbucks audit, https://www.zhanyict.com/en/ProductsDetail-VB-10534.htmla factory needs to invest around RMB 100,000 to 200,000 for equipment upgrades, employee training, and documentation.

Standards and Focus: Based on Starbucks’ own Code of Conduct, https://www.zhanyict.com/en/ProductsDetail-VB-10534.htmlthe audit places greater emphasis on environmental management and employee rights.